| Family: |
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 70 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-6. Pectoral fin rays usually 18; back arched; with about 45 vertical scale rows; lachrymal bone with 2 or 3 spines over maxillary, first points forward, followed by 1 or by 2 close-set spines which point down and back; suborbital ridge with 4 or more spinous points, usually more than 8 or 10 points, not in a row and of various sizes; a shallow pit below front corner of eye (Ref. 10482). Colorful inside the pectoral fins, used for display (Ref. 48635). |
| Biology: |
Relatively an uncommon inhabitant of rubble or weedy coralline-rock bottoms of reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on fishes (Ref. 89972). Flashes its inner pectoral fins when disturbed (Ref. 9710). Can inflict a painful injury with its venomous dorsal sting. Often partly buried (Ref. 48635). Solitary or in pairs (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
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